Rulers Rule, But Power to the People – Psalm 82

1 God presides in the great assembly;
he renders judgment among the “gods”:
2 “How long will you defend the unjust
and show partiality to the wicked?
3 Defend the weak and the fatherless;
uphold the cause of the poor and the oppressed.
4 Rescue the weak and the needy;
deliver them from the hand of the wicked.
5 The gods know nothing, they understand nothing.
They walk about in darkness;
all the foundations of the earth are shaken.
6 “I said, ‘You are “gods”;
you are all sons of the Most High.’
7 But you will die like mere mortals;
you will fall like every other ruler.”
8 Rise up, O God, judge the earth,
for all the nations are your inheritance.

Most of the old testament calls us and tells us how kings should act. Truly, rulers have been put in place to execute justice, mercy and regard the cry of the poor. After the gospel is for the poor, the lost and the weary. This is what Jesus said “The Spirit of the Lord is on me, because he has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim freedom for the prisoners and recovery of sight for the blind, to set the oppressed free, And as the king of kings he asked kings to do the same. Leadership, is after all a place to serve other as with what Joseph did. Wisdom has two sides and Justice has two sides after all. Justice affect all: he makes the sun shine on the just and unjust and he reigns down judgement on the just and the unjust. When the just do not warn the unjust. But more so for the unjust. Do not lead us to the wrath of God because you refuse to rule justly. Authority may be given to rulers to rule but power belongs to people Afterall.

Micah 6: 8

He has shown you, O mortal, what is good.
    And what does the Lord require of you?
To act justly and to love mercy
    and to walk humbly[a] with your God.

Songs: Maranatha

The Day of Christ 2 Thessalonians 2, Revelations 18

2 Thessalonians 2: 2

not to become easily unsettled or alarmed by the teaching allegedly from us—whether by a prophecy or by word of mouth or by letter—asserting that the day of the Lord has already come. 

In Revelation 14, 18 we see two precedent that stated the fall of Babylon. The first signified the sickle given to bring harvest but in Revelation on a latter time the judgement on Babylon takes place. So, the first call to Babylon to repent was for harvest of Gods people.

The second call was bringing judgement on Babylon to set up a new kingdom, the Apocalypse. So the tribulation, rapture, destruction to come Jesus had this to say, ‘If I will that He Tarry till I Come, what is it to you? follow me’, John 21. 22. That’s for the first believers expected to call other believers that harvest is on as with Revelation 14 and the second time Jesus said was John 21: 23 So the saying spread abroad among the brothers that this disciples was not die; yet Jesus did not say to him that he was not to die, but, “if it is my will that he remain until i come, what is that to you?” Are the ones who heed the call of harvest before judgement comes.

Jesus urged us to keep bearing witness about these things, that his testimony is true and I urge you with the love of God to keep doing these things as I shall try myself. Hold on.

A Carpenters son

One body – Ephesians 4 AND Songs of Solomon 2

Every time, I put out posting I get attached today had to be the most of it. Surely the work of God must be done still. Songs of Solomon begins with a woman called rose of Sharon who is the lily among valleys, we have a picture of a kind of church its name and its fragrance. Then there is the second woman in a banqueting hall talking about our beloved, Christ in the person of Solomon who sustains her with raisins. The 3rd woman is liken to a tree of figs but foxes spoilt its vineyard and avid picture of Israel as a nation. So we see the women knit together around Solomon’s life forming a body of the house of God, the interplay on how the speak to him and he responds is the state of our relationship with one another as well as with God. When one of the bride goes to the market place to ask for the groom is a picture of our evangelism or gift in the church.



Ephesians 1: 5 He predestined for adoption to himself as sons through Jesus Christ, according to the purpose of his will. And this purpose is manifested in the gift he gave to man to equip for the building up of the Saints. the unity in which this is done is through faith and the knowledge of Gods son. Ephesians 4: 8-12

The Curious Case of the Church – 1 Kings 11:31, Ezra 10

Ezra begins with a plan to end marriage to foreign women and put them away as wives. We see slight protest here but altogether this was agreed.

The Plan for Ending Mixed Marriages

1While Ezra was bowing in prayer in front of the Temple, weeping and confessing these sins, a large group of Israelites — men, women, and children — gathered round him, weeping bitterly. 2Then Shecaniah son of Jehiel, of the clan of Elam, said to Ezra, “We have broken faith with God by marrying foreign women, but even so there is still hope for Israel. 3Now we must make a solemn promise to our God that we will send these women and their children away. We will do what you and the others who honour God’s commands advise us to do. We will do what God’s Law demands. 4It is your responsibility to act. We are behind you, so go ahead and get it done.”

5So Ezra began by making the leaders of the priests, of the Levites, and of the rest of the people take an oath that they would do what Shecaniah had proposed. 6Then he went from in front of the Temple into the living quarters of Jehohanan son of Eliashib, and spent the night there grieving over the unfaithfulness of the exiles. He did not eat or drink anything.

7A message was sent throughout Jerusalem and Judah that all those who had returned from exile were to meet in Jerusalem 8by order of the leaders of the people. If anyone failed to come within three days, all his property would be confiscated, and he would lose his right to be a member of the community. 9Within the three days, on the twentieth day of the ninth month, all the men living in the territory of Judah and Benjamin came to Jerusalem and assembled in the temple square. It was raining hard, and because of the weather and the importance of the meeting everyone was trembling.

10Ezra the priest stood up and spoke to them. He said, “You have been faithless and have brought guilt on Israel by marrying foreign women. 11Now then, confess your sins to the LORD, the God of your ancestors, and do what pleases him. Separate yourselves from the foreigners living in our land and get rid of your foreign wives.”

12The people shouted in answer, “We will do whatever you say.” 13But they added, “The crowd is too big, and it’s raining hard. We can’t stand here in the open like this. This isn’t something that can be done in one or two days, because so many of us are involved in this sin. 14Let our officials stay in Jerusalem and take charge of the matter. Then let anyone who has a foreign wife come at a set time, together with the leaders and the judges of his city. In this way God’s anger over this situation will be turned away.” 15No one was opposed to the plan except Jonathan son of Asahel and Jahzeiah son of Tikvah, who had the support of Meshullam and of Shabbethai, a Levite.

16The returned exiles accepted the plan, so Ezra the priest appointed men from among the heads of the clans and recorded their names. On the first day of the tenth month they began their investigation, 17and within the next three months they investigated all the cases of men with foreign wives.

The Men who had Foreign Wives

18This is the list of the men who had foreign wives:

Priests, listed by clans:

Clan of Joshua and his brothers, sons of Jehozadak: Maaseiah, Eliezer, Jarib, and Gedaliah. 19They promised to divorce their wives, and they offered a ram as a sacrifice for their sins.

20Clan of Immer: Hanani and Zebadiah

21Clan of Harim: Maaseiah, Elijah, Shemaiah, Jehiel, and Uzziah

22Clan of Pashhur: Elioenai, Maaseiah, Ishmael, Nethanel, Jozabad, and Elasah.

23Levites:

Jozabad, Shimei, Kelaiah (also called Kelita), Pethahiah, Judah, and Eliezer.

24Musicians:

Eliashib.

Temple guards:

Shallum, Telem, and Uri.

25Others:

Clan of Parosh: Ramiah, Izziah, Malchijah, Mijamin, Eleazar, Malchijah, and Benaiah

26Clan of Elam: Mattaniah, Zechariah, Jehiel, Abdi, Jeremoth, and Elijah

27Clan of Zattu: Elioenai, Eliashib, Mattaniah, Jeremoth, Zabad, and Aziza

28Clan of Bebai: Jehohanan, Hananiah, Zabbai, and Athlai

29Clan of Bani: Meshullam, Malluch, Adaiah, Jashub, Sheal, and Jeremoth

30Clan of Pahath Moab: Adna, Chelal, Benaiah, Maaseiah, Mattaniah, Bezalel, Binnui, and Manasseh

31-32Clan of Harim: Eliezer, Isshijah, Malchijah, Shemaiah, Shimeon, Benjamin, Malluch, and Shemariah

33Clan of Hashum: Mattenai, Mattattah, Zabad, Eliphelet, Jeremai, Manasseh, and Shimei

34-37Clan of Bani: Maadai, Amram, Uel, Benaiah, Bedeiah, Cheluhi, Vaniah, Meremoth, Eliashib, Mattaniah, Mattenai, and Jaasu

38-42Clan of Binnui: Shimei, Shelemiah, Nathan, Adaiah, Machnadebai, Shashai, Sharai, Azarel, Shelemiah, Shemariah, Shallum, Amariah, and Joseph

43Clan of Nebo: Jeiel, Mattithiah, Zabad, Zebina, Jaddai, Joel, and Benaiah.

44All these men had foreign wives. They divorced them and sent them and their children away.

Jesus made the disciples get into the boat and go … Matthew 14: 22

As I said sometimes, someone may be born blind and it’s no fault of his or any sin he has committed, or his parent had committed. John 9. WHEN You find yourself in trouble, do you sometimes think, I must have done something wrong. The disciples weren’t in the storm by disobeying but obeying Jesus; not by rejecting Gods will but by embracing it. The bible says, ……. Jesus made the disciples get into the boat and go …….’, and they obeyed. At times you will find yourself in troubled waters because you did what was right. When this happens here are some helpful lessons from the disciple’s experience 1) obedience doesn’t guarantee there will be no storms. The disciples had just seen Jesus’ feed five thousand people with 5 bread rolls and two fishes and end up with more food than he started with. Understand when God doesn’t solve your problem, he shows up in the middle of it and cause you to come out stronger. 2) Fear doesn’t mean you are a failure. It’s just a reminder that you are human, and we should remember who is in charge. This will transform how we see trials.

The Imperfect Church with a perfect Heart Luke 5: 5

Years ago, I was in a church that said for imperfect people and with my imperfect behavior I entered. At the time the pastor was suffering some level of disappointments he called injustice. I was going through my own private hell, as well. So, I liked this guy in a platonic way (he had a family), unknown to me I didn’t realize that we behaved in the same way. So, I defended his family, I didn’t realize that it took a fox to recognize a fox.



He was a car deals man in America but was heavily anointed and pretended to be nothing. I wondered why we agreed on everything. The day I failed my English the sky turns red orange when we prayed. An odd occurrence, he used up all his money on mission and in his hour of need in another European country, he got nothing instead and claimed the church there was a hard ground. Of course, I agreed with him, I was going through the same thing two years sleepless night with prejudice and bias on my result. So, he left the EU nation bitterly and I left as well in the same manner. Looking back, I realize we both on trial and we just did not know it. I have been in and out of many waters it seems I’m getting used to this game. God allowed it to deepen our strength in him and myself. If we believe God is unjust, he will suffer unjustly, and only unjust people would come to us. This pastor returns to America AND months after another American came who stayed for 6 months and left thereafter and while I left, I heard another person from the UK a woman came but left after the pandemic. Since then, none had gone to this atheist nation. So, it seemed the preacher got his justice for what was done to him and his family, but where was the mercy for the lost souls there. Reading John 9: 1- 4, we see a man having no fault born blind from birth. I realize this problem the pastor had was not his doing as the man born blind but because the works of God had to be made manifest in him. Sometimes, God had to break us, so we can dig deeper to win souls. We sometimes suffer so Gods work would be done in us.

Songs of Solomon 3, 4 – Jesus Bride (THE CHURCH).

In Deuteronomy 22 “If a man meets a virgin who is not betrothed, and seizes her and lies with her, and they are found, 29 then the man who lay with her shall give to the father of the young woman fifty shekels of silver, and she shall be his wife, because he has violated her. He may not divorce her all his days.

There was a principle that if a man meets a virgin not betrothed and seizes her and lies with her, he had a high price to pay for this. So, this is why in songs of Solomon, Solomon is advised not to awaken love until the time is right. TWICE. So, there is a timing for love much like the time Jesus returns for his bride.

Songs of Solomon 3 vs 4 says I charge you daughters of Jerusalem not to awaken love until the time is right. why it has consequences, as Deuteronomy shows. so, we see Jesus as with Solomon coming out of the wilderness, and Solomon was perfumed with myrrh and frankincense and pillar of silver, bottom gold. The very same gifts given to Jesus when he was young. And Solomon was young and inexperienced when he got these gifts.

He then entreats in Song of Solomon 4: 7 that I am all fair and there is no spot in me (purity), Song of Solomon 5: 2 undefiled woman is what Solomon was seeking for. So, if Solomon a king could choose and seek for a pure bride, why won’t Jesus come for a pure bride unblemished bride. We see Philippians 2:15
so that you may be blameless and pure, children of God without fault in a crooked and perverse generation, in which you shine as lights in the world. Purity and Holiness matter to God, even Jesus was a spotless and harmless lamb. We can ascribe for those without putting one another down.

Songs:

The Return of Christ – for his beloved bride. John 21

Because of this, the rumor spread among the believers that this disciple would not die. But Jesus did not say that he would not die; he only said, “If I want him to remain alive until I return, what is that to you?” – John 21: 23

The first call to Gods return was seen in John 21: 22 Jesus saith unto him, if i tarry until i come, what is it to thee? follow thou me and the one in verse 23 he said if I want to return, what is that to you? In this, chapter someone had already preached it to me previously, John Redmond and his views on this one that I may echo, that sometimes, we have fished and toiled and caught nothing and that when Jesus appeared telling them to launch out into the deep. They caught so many fish. Even Simon pulled his clothe to enter into the sea to drag his net out as it was too heavy to drag out.

One wonders why SIMON peter who was Christ disciple, God would allow him toil so much and catch nothing but he upon seeing Jesus cast his net and caught many fish. In this we not only see Gods love for us through our hardship but also our commission to go and catch many fish. Sometimes, God allows us to toil so he can direct us where to throw our net – i.e. the right so we can catch fish.

On the account of John 21, Jesus begins to ask Simon PETER, do you love me, and Simon says, lord you know that I agape you. Then he tells Simon then feed my fish. Whether we feel loved by God or not loved by God we are commission to feed Christ sheep. It’s in doing his will that we find his purpose and enter his will for our lives it seems. According, to John sometimes we cannot see the love of God, but we know he is there. I feel burdened myself like I am not doing well enough given how much I know but I guess it is tiny drops that make an ocean.

John 21:18 in the Bible states: “Very truly I tell you, when you were younger you dressed yourself and went where you wanted; but when you are old you will stretch out your hands, and someone else will dress you and lead you where you do not want to go” (NIV

Even if we are not assured of his love for us, we know God is with us.

Lord of the Harvest – Matthew 9: 38.

Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into his harvest field.” Matthew 9: 38.
Sometimes, when the plot thickens for harvest of souls, we relent than call forth more laborers to harvest. Matthew 9: 38 – 39 Jesus said, “The harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few.” He instructed his disciples to pray for more workers to join the harvest. I was called you too are called today. One of such people who worked the fields of harvest is Ruth, she worked the field of Boaz and Boaz translates to strength. We have jobs, ministry and different roles where we to work but whose fields are we working on? It’s in working in the field of harvest we get bread and water. God encourage everyone struggling to do God work to keep on working on the field of harvest to keep working.


This is why Jesus said awake you sleepers: Why when we sleep the enemy may come to sow tares Matthew 13:25-35, so even though tares may grow with wheat as Jesus said: But he said, ‘No, lest while you gather up the tares you also uproot the wheat with them.
30 Let both grow together until the harvest, and at the time of harvest I will say to the reapers, “First gather together the tares and bind them in bundles to burn them but gather the wheat into my barn.” HE IS STILL THE LORD OF THE HARVEST. Whose field are you working on tares or wheat.




Songs

Water into the Wine – Luke 11: 1-13

One of my favorite stories in the bible was Jesus turning water into wine in Cana Galilee. Its been a rough path for me so I too decided to turn water to wine. The six water of jar Jesus had signify the number of the first Adam created on the six day, so the jar was filled as we are filled with rivers of living water that flows from our belly. And outwardly is baptism signify repentance. Inwardly and Outward baptism signifies revival of the man. Revival for me signify that signifies baptism on the outside and wellspring on the inside. And Jesus in John 2: 1 – 11 the water drawn turned to wine.

Similarly at the cross the pierced his side and lo water and blood signified came out. But one of the soldiers with a spear pierced his side, and forthwith came there out blood and water. 3 John 19: 34.

Another intriguing thing is ““Woman,[a] why do you involve me?” Jesus replied. “My hour has not yet come.” John 2: 1 – 11. Going a little farther, he fell with his face to the ground and prayed, “My Father, if it is possible, may this cup be taken from me. Yet not as I will, but as you will.” Matthew 26: 39 His reluctance at the cross was the reluctance he had to change water to whine. I guess we all have a bit of Jonah in us. Never the less not my will but your will be done as Mary and her son say, say I.